Thanks for the info Tze-Chien. I haven't had a chance to look at the code yet.

More news about using USB devices. I came across a device called the Teensy USB Development Board made by PJRC. They claim that the USB connection can be any type of device. There are two versions based on the AT90USB162 or AT90USB646. They range from $19 to $27. Pretty good deal since you get a MCU as well.

PJRC: http://www.pjrc.com/teensy/index.html

AT90USB162 and AT90USB646:http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/view_detail.asp?FileName=AT90USB1287_2_14.html&family_id=607

The Parallax device looks like a clone of the VDIP1. It uses the same Vinculum chip, so it will have the same problems with SPI. Tze-Chien's sample code uses the serial interface, which works OK on the Parallax or VDIP1.

I've looked at the Teensy boards, but I don't really understand what USB functionality you get. I think it just gives you some USB hardware and maybe some drivers, which allows you write your own USB code. But I'm guessing you don't get a file system, etc. So you'd have to write the equivalent of the Vinculum chip if you want the FAT file system.

If you or anyone else has more info about what you get on the AT90USBxxx chips, I'd love to hear about it. Thanks!

The tennsy++ looks like a very interesting product. They have a beta release for allowing it to be used with a modified Arduino IDE. This seems to me to be a significant new product for the Arduino community?http://www.pjrc.com/teensy/teensyduino.html

I've been using the Teensy for a few weeks now and I'm very pleased. Pleased enough that I'm about to order two Teensy++. It appears as a serial port to the computer and draws power from USB. If you have questions about it, I'd be happy to try and help.

Basically, I installed the software, plugged in the Teensy, and started development .

I connected the Viculum chip to a breadboard and with wires to an arduino duemilanove and the arduino is connected to the pc!...i can't seem to have a communication between a USB attached to the vinculum through the arduino and the PC!...do i need to have any drivers?